Cash-drawer-opening apparatus

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for opening a cash drawer. A spring-loaded cash drawer is mounted in a housing having an electrically operated solenoid. The solenoid has a movable rod projecting through a flange fastened to the drawer. A magnetic reed relay is operable connected to the solenoid having a pair of contacts closable by a pulse circuit. A switch connected in parallel with the magnetic reed relay closes whenever the drawer is in the open position.

United States Patent Joeeph R. Showers, Jr. Waldron, Ind.

Dec. 3, 1970 Dec. 21, 1971 Indiana Cult Drawer Company Shelbyville, Ind.

[72] Inventor [21 J Appl. No. [22] Filed [45] Patented [73] Assignee [54] CASH-DRAWER-OPENING APPARATUS 2,883,104 4/1959 Kintner.;.. 3,061,185 10/1962 Richard Primary Examiner-mom B. Wilkinson Assistant Examiner-Stanley A. Wal Attorney-Woodard, Weikart, Emhardt & Naughton ABSTRACT: An apparatus for opening a cash drawer. A spring-loaded cash drawer is mounted in a housing having an electrically operated solenoid. The solenoid has a movable rod projecting through a flange fastened to the drawer. A magnetic reed relay is operable connected to the solenoid having a pair of contacts closable by a pulse circuit. A switch connected in parallel with the magnetic reed relay closes whenever the drawer is in the open position.

PATENTEumiczmn 3'628'724 flfforneys BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1 Field of the Invention This invention is in the field of cash drawers.

2. Description of the Prior Art Cash register drawers have complex and expensive mechanisms for allowing the drawer to be opened from the cash register. The first cash registers to be produced typically had mechanical means for controlling the opening and closing of the drawer. More recent cash registers have electrical means for controlling the drawer operation. The US. Pat. No. 2,883,104, issued to Kintner discloses an apparatus for opening and closing a drawer which is used by two or more cashiers. The US. Pat. No. 3,061,185 issued to Richard discloses a system for locking the cash drawer by means of a solenoid relay combination actuated by an oscillator triggered by a special ring womon the cashier's finger.

Cash registers typically operate from a source of electrical power requiring a relatively small amount of current for operating its registering means. If the spring-loaded cash drawers are to be operated by solenoids a considerable amount of circuitry must be provided within the cash register to increase the power level to the amount required to operate the solenoid. All of this added circuitry increases the cost of the cash register. The present invention solves this problem by providing a magnetic reed relay having control means operable by the standard pulse circuit within the cash register requiring only a relatively small amount of current. The contacts of the reed relay are then connected to a second source of power for routing relatively high current to the solenoid for opening the cash drawer. Thus, the cash drawer may be solenoid-operated and requires only a small number of electrical components as contrasted to prior circuits requiring many electrical components.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is an apparatus for opening a cash register drawer. A magnetic reed relay has first control means and a first set of contacts. An electrical solenoid having second control means is operably connected to the power input and also connected to one of the contacts of the reed relay. The solenoid has a movablerod operable by the second control means and is engageable with the drawer. A switch has a second set of contacts closed when the drawer is opened being also opened when the drawer is closed. The contacts are connected in parallel with the first control means and are connected in series with the power input and the pulse circuit of the cash register.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus for opening a cash drawer.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a circuit having a relatively small number of components for operating a solenoid-actuated, spring-loaded cash register drawer.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for opening a cash drawer which is operable by a short duration, low current electrical pulse.

Related objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a fragmentary top elevation of a cash register drawer incorporating the present invention with a portion of the top wall removed to more clearly illustrate the interior.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation viewed in the direction of arrows 2-2 of FIG. 1 showing the flange connected to the back portion of the drawer.

FIG. 3 is an electrical schematic diagram illustrating the circuitry for the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawing and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a housing 10 having a cash drawer l l slidably mounted therein by conventional bearings. The top wall 13 of housing 10 is fragmented at- 1 4, to illustrate the interior of the housing and show compartments 12 of drawer 11 for receiving various items. Housing 10 is generally rectangular having a pair of sidewalls 15 and 16 joined to the backwall 17. The drawer is shown in a completely closed position having a pair of mutually opposing flanges 18 and 19 defining a recess 20 in the back portion of the drawer preventing interference of the drawer with the various components located at the back portion of the housing. The coiled spring 21 has a distal end seated within retainer 22 fastened to the drawer. It will be appreciated that spring 21 urges the drawer to the open position. The spring 21 is securely mounted to backwall 17.

An electrical switch 23 having a movable control arm 24 is mounted on the bottom wall 9 of housing 10 and has a set of contacts opened when the drawer is in a fully closed position.

When the drawer is open, control arm 24 pivots outwardly allowing the electrical contacts within the switch to close. Thus, the contacts of the switch are closed only when the drawer is open. Likewise, the contacts are open when the drawer is closed.

Mounted to the interior surface 25 of flange 18 is bracket 26. FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation viewed in the direction of arrows 2-2 of FIG. 1 showing a portion of bracket 18. Standard fastening devices 33 are used to securely mount bracket 26 to bracket 18. A generally rectangular shaped hole 32 is provided in bracket 26 for receiving the movable rod 30 of solenoid 27. The solenoid is mounted to the backwall 17 of the housing and has control means for moving rod 30 away from bracket 26. Solenoids are well known in the art and are commercially available. In one embodiment of the invention, a solenoid produced by the Comar Electrical Company of Chicago, "1., was utilized having a Model No. C1 1058. A U-shaped bracket 28 fastened to wall 17 has a pair of legs 53 and 54 which freely receive rod 30. A spring 29 having rod 30 passing therethrough is positioned between legs 53 and 54 of bracket 28 with one end of the coiled-spring abutting leg 53 and with the opposite end of the spring abutting a washer 52 fixedly secured to rod 30. Rod 30 will move away from bracket 26 whenever a pulse is provided to solenoid 27 At the end of the pulse, spring 29 will force rod 30 back to its original position with washer 52 abutting leg 54. In the inactivated position, tip 31 of rod 30 extends past leg 54 into hole 32 of bracket 26. Bracket 26 has a main body 55 with a distal end 56 which projects beyond and behind the drawer at an angle 35 with respect to the main body 55 of approximately 45. Main body 55 is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of rod 30 and is integrally joined to end portion 56. End 56 is abuttable against tip 31 of rod 30 as the drawer is being closed thereby moving the rod 30 in the direction of arrow 57. A magnetic reed relay 40 is mounted to the bottom wall 9 of the housing.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the electrical circuitry of the present invention. The coil 47 of the magnetic reed relay is connected in parallel with switch contacts 23 via wires 45 and 46 which in turn are connected in series with terminal 49 and terminal board 36 via wire 43. Terminals 49 and 48 are connected to the 1 15 volts alternating current power input line 39 (FIG. 1). Board 36 secured to the backwall 17 of the housing is connected to ground terminal 48 and also to pulse circuit 41 with wires 43 and 42 interconnected. Pulse circuit 41 is not a part of the present invention since it is a standard pulse circuit found in many cash register drawers. Circuit 41 connects a short-duration load to wire 42 thereby allowing a current flow from terminal 49 through coil 47 to circuit 41. Contacts 60 close when sufficient current flows through coil 47. Contacts 60 are connected in series to tenninal 49 and via wire 51 to solenoid 27. The solenoid is alsoconnected to terminal 48 via wire 50. Thus, as a pulse is provided to the coil of the magnetic reed relay by circuit 41, the contacts 60 of the magnetic reed relay close thereby activating solenoid 27 disengaging rod 30 from hole 32 of bracket 26. When the drawer does open, the movable control arm 24 of the switch pivots outwardly thereby closing the contacts of switch 23 and routing power from terminal 49 to circuit 41 via wires 43 and 42. Thus, the magnetic reed relay is controlled by a short duration pulse with minimum current flow resulting in the closing of contacts routing power and permitting relatively large current fiow to the solenoid for opening the cash drawer. It has been determined that the above-described circuit is particularly advantageous since the magnetic reed relay is capable of taking relatively large shocks which may occur as the cash register is bumped or hit. In addition, the magnetic reed relay is relatively small as compared to other relays thereby taking less space in the cash register. When the drawer is opened, contacts 23 are closed thereby preventing activation of reed relay 40 by another pulse and routing power from terminal 49-to-drawercircuitry 41 allowing for the cash-drawer-adding functions.

Many variations are contemplated and included in the present invention. For example, a warning gong may be connected to the drawer to ring when the drawer is opened or closed. It will be evident from the above description that the present invention provides an improved apparatus for opening a cash drawer. ln addition, it will be evident from the above description that the present invention provides a circuit having a relatively small number of components for controlling a solenoid-actuated, spring-loaded cash drawer.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected.

The invention claimed is: 1. In combination with a cash register having a pulse circuit and a drawer:

a power input; a magnetic reed relay having first control means and a first set of contacts; an electrical solenoid having second control means operably connected to said input and one of said contacts, said solenoid having a movable rod operable by said second control means and engageable with said drawer;

and,

a switch having a second set of contacts closed only when said drawer is open, said set of contacts being opened when said drawer is closed, said contacts being connected-in-parallel with said first control means and connected in series with said input and said pulse circuit.

2. The combination of claim 1 additionally comprising:

a flange having a main body and a distal end portion integrally joined at an angle to said body, said body being fixedly fastened asideand to said drawer and having a hole receiving said rod when said drawer is closed, said rod being movable by said end portion as said drawer is closed.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein:

said first set of contacts are connected in series with said input and said second control means.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein:

said distal-end portion projects beyond and behind said drawer; and,

said main body is perpendicular to said ro d. 5. The combination of claim 4 whereln said angle ls approx mately 45 and wherein said first and second means are coils.

# i i t 

1. In combination with a cash register having a pulse circuit and a drawer: a power input; a magnetic reed relay having first control means and a first set of contacts; an electrical solenoid having second control means operably connected to said input and one of said contacts, said solenoid having a movable rod operable by said second control means and engageable with said drawer; and, a switch having a second set of contacts closed only when said drawer is open, said set of contacts being opened when said drawer is closed, said contacts being connected-in-parallel with said first control means and connected in series with said input and said pulse circuit.
 2. The combination of claim 1 additionally comprising: a flange having a main body and a distal end portion integrally joined at an angle to said body, said body being fixedly fastened aside and to said drawer and having a hole receiving said rod when said drawer is closed, said rod being movable by said end portion as said drawer is closed.
 3. The combination of claim 2 wherein: said first set of contacts are connected in series with said input and said second control means.
 4. The combination of claim 3 wherein: said distal-end portion projects beyond and behind said drawer; and, said main body is perpendicular to said rod.
 5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said angle is approximately 45* and wherein said first and second means are coils. 